Season (2) Shades of Lust Episode 25-55

[Edoman]

Season (2) Shades of Lust Episode 25-55

 


Episode 25

Kelvin’s side of the story continues

‘’Kelvin dear what did you tell them about me?’’ Jessica asked accusingly as if she already knew what I could have said about her but before I could say anything, the rude inspector dragged me to the other section of the room where I was made to declare my things.

A minute later I found myself in a police cell, a place I very much dreaded. I just couldn’t believe it. It looked as if I was dreaming.

‘’enjoy your day’’ the policeman who dragged me to the cell grinned as he pushed me in without any consideration. For some seconds my mind went totally blank. And as my brain slowly recovered from the blackout, I desperately thought of how to act before my new cell mates who were busy weighing me, probably getting ready to pounce on me like wild cats.

There were about fifteen young men in the poorly lit stinking cell which was as small as my bathroom. Of course as a new comer I knew the kind of reception that awaited me and it was something I was in no state of mind to face.
I had just my body size and strength as the only advantage but I knew I had no chance facing all of them at once in a free for all fight. I equally had no money to share. In fact I just wasn’t prepared for the stuff I was facing that morning.

Slowly i remembered what a friend who once was locked up for a long time told me about police cells.

‘’once you find yourself in a hardcore cell, show no fear and don’t take one more step once you are inside for the first time. Just stand with the guy at the entrance and examine things first if you have no money to bribe your way’’ he had narrated as we laughed about his cell experience. I never took his words seriously back then till that fateful moment when I stood face to face with strange hungry looking men. Of course the cell just looked like a hardcore one. I simply stood like someone out-numbered in a ‘’hell in a cell cage’’, waiting for the first blow or intimidation to come. I wasn’t ready for a fight but it never meant that I was ready to go down or intimidated without a fight. Moreover just like the guys in there, I was equally a street guy even though mine was in a matured level.

Surprisingly no one laid a hand on me, it was as if they were too weak to look for my trouble or probably scared of me. My heart pounded furiously as we all exchanged glances.

‘’This man!’’ I suddenly heard a voice scream out as a lanky looking guy slowly stood up from the floor.

‘’Kelvin Kelvin, o boy wetin bring you here?’’ he asked in Pidgin English as he approached me a smile. I instantly heaved a sigh of relief as my eyes fell on the young man’s face. He was no other person than the guy I bought my first laptop from years ago. Of course it was a stolen laptop and he was honest about it.

‘’o boy! I was just arrested for kidnapping one lawyer’’ I explained quickly while the whole room fell silence as my explanation hit every one of them.

‘’chai my chairman, kidnapping?. Mehn. I knew you were going to run this town the first time we met. Just look at me, running things here just for a small robbery while you are out there doing big things’’ he proclaimed with admiration while I scoffed and shook my head. I couldn’t say anything else to him. I was yet to even come to terms of what was happening to me. I just couldn’t wait to get out of that smelling hell hole. However I was happy that I wasn’t embarrassed or bullied.

Around 3pm, I was dragged out of the cell to meet the rude police inspector who arrested me earlier in the day. He smiled as his eyes scanned my appearance. He was satisfied by what he saw.

‘’Mr. Kelvin, the kidnappers called two hours ago to demand their money once again and with the look of things, it seems you were right about not being involved. But you see in this case, it’s very unwise to bring in a lawyer or to form Mr. Innocent when all you need to do is just to play ball with us. You dragged your girlfriend into this by mentioning her in your statement and it won’t help your case, moreover we got an unlicensed weapon in your house and if we should start tracing the source of that gun, you won’t like what we will discover’’ he said softly.

‘’so what do you want me to do now?’’ I asked seriously while he smiled.

‘’relax don’t be in a hurry’’ he muttered

Episode 26

Jude’s side of the story continues from same evening of last episode

As I headed out of the hostel to get some snacks at a shop close by, I spotted my Tracy alighting from a Toyota SUV.
At first my heart froze on sighting her before a smile gradually appeared on my face as my heart began beating rapidly. I just wasn’t expecting her to return to the hostel so soon and somehow I felt she was badly missing me, hence her sudden return.
Unfortunately my joy was cut short the moment my eyes fell on the driver of the SUV as he equally alighted and headed to the car boot to bring down Tracy’s things.

I instantly smelt danger the moment my eyes fell on the young man. He was well dressed in a striped shirt and well ironed plain trouser. The air and charisma in which he carried himself sold him off as a very rich career guy. I swallowed hard as I stood like a frozen image, watching him hug my Tracy before jumping into his car and driving away.

Nervously I approached Tracy not exactly knowing what to say to her. Yes of course I was very jealous. I was very mad; I was very pained over what I just witnessed.
‘’hey dear welcome back’’ I muttered, forcing out a smile as I approached her.

‘’hey Jude whatsup?’’ she greeted causally as if we were just nothing but old pals. It really got to me but since we were still far from being cool with each other, I simply let it go.

‘’hmmm you really brought in lots of things’’ I joked, dutifully carrying two of the heavy sacks I saw on the floor. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

‘’Jude I never asked you to help me. I can take them to my room myself. Weren’t you going somewhere?’’ she asked coldly. I bit my lips as I flinched, fighting hard to control my pride. Yes of course I cheated on her, I lied to her, I played with her feelings but I never deceived her into loving me because I was very much in love with her but she was just carrying on as if she was gold, diamond or something so highly special.

‘’Tracy come on, why are you acting so uptight?’’ I breathed.

‘’because I know you are just looking for a way to blow more lies into my ears. I moved on. You just saw my new guy right?. So just let me be and face your life with your Pamela or whatever she’s called’’ she hissed arrogantly, freezing me with her annoying words. Of course it was my entire fault but she wasn’t just giving me the chance to explain things to her.

‘’let’s go to your room first. We will talk when we get there’’ I muttered with a controlled voice. She rolled her eyes once again.

‘’Jude my room is no longer open to you. I’m sorry but I know you never loved me, you needed someone who would be your companion, your helper and cook over here and I fell for it. Just look for another girl to fool or simply manage for these few remaining months and return to the lady of your class who would probably be waiting with a white baby for you by then’’ she hissed, grabbed two of her bags and headed to the hostel, leaving me standing like a fool.

———————————-

Kelvin’s side of the story continues from the last scene of the previous episode

Instead of opening up to me, the inspector simply changed the topic after a little hesitation.

‘’your girlfriend or should I call her your fiancée is waiting to talk with you. We will finish our discussion later’’ he muttered with a smile while I shrugged. I couldn’t help but wonder what he meant exactly by me playing ball since he wasn’t yet ready to make his demands open.

He soon left the room while Jessica walked in with a food flash. She wasn’t exactly looking bright and I stared at her curiously.

‘’they denied you bail. You will be spending the night here my love. But I believe by tomorrow you will be freed. I never knew you had a gun. You could have given it to me to hide for you’’ she said softly as I quickly devoured the food she brought for me.

‘’I hid the gun very well Jessica. I still can’t believe how they found it’’ I replied slowly.

‘’they said you are being held for kidnapping and possession of fire arm and that granting you bail is still impossible until they are done with the investigations but i believe it’s all about money and you shouldn’t be worried. I will get you out before the end of tomorrow’’ she promised softly. My eyes brightened, she just had a way of appearing like an angel before me.

‘’but one more thing my love’’ she added, staring deep into my eyes.

‘’don’t you want me anymore?’’ she asked, leaving me amused with her question. Of course there wasn’t any way I was going to be honest in that situation.

Episode 27

Kelvin’s side of the story continues

‘’my dear let’s save that topic till I get out of here. You should be working on getting me out of here please’’ I begged. Jessica smiled, slowly reaching for my hand.

‘’I promise you will be out of here tomorrow’’ she said with strong words. Deep down I prayed for God to help me as well because I really was in a mess and I couldn’t figure out the direction to move my life anymore.

—————————————-

Jude’s side of the story continues, same evening

By 8pm, I slowly made my way to Tracy’s room with a fast beating heart. I was so keen on making peace with her. I so badly wanted to end the bad blood between us even though it appeared as if my Tracy was really a bit different from the girl I used to know. I couldn’t believe she actually changed that much over the few weeks we had been away from each other.
Yes it was my entire fault but at least she should have given me the chance to explain myself.

I knocked on her door for about ten minutes before she opened it, frowning as she faced me. She couldn’t even allow me to walk in. I speechlessly stared at her for some seconds, not exactly knowing what to say.

‘’why are you disturbing my peace this night?, what do you want?’’ she asked furiously.

‘’I came for us to talk’’ I answered softly. She scoffed.

‘’you are wasting your time. I have moved on. I have a new guy and I’m happy with him. There isn’t a chance of us getting back together. Just go back to your room, sleep and forget about me’’ she said very seriously, punishing me with those hurtful words. I just couldn’t control my feelings or eyes as tears quickly formed up against my wish.
I wanted to say something but couldn’t because of my deep emotional state, instead I kept quiet for few seconds as I tried to make the tears go away from my eyes. I was a man; I had to be in control of my feelings no matter what.

‘’Trey’’ I finally managed to breathe. She rolled her eyes and looked away. It was just as if she wasn’t touched in any way unless of course she was outwardly trying to look strong when deep down she really wasn’t herself.

‘’we have come a long way for this’’ I stammered, looking down.

‘’you knew we have come a long way, yet you cheated on me to the extent of getting a woman pregnant. It wasn’t once or twice that you slept with her and to even think that I innocently offered you my body to satisfy your male thing and you refused. Just leave my presence please’’ she shouted.

‘’Trey I love you and nothing will ever stop me from loving you. I lied about many things but not what I felt for you’’ I confessed. She shook her head, closed her eyes for some seconds, drew back and shut the door on my face.

(I knocked and knocked and knocked on the door all over again but this time around she never answered.)

After hopefully standing at her door for about thirty minutes, I returned to my room to have a very sleepless night. My Tracy just was so close but far. I really didn’t know what else to do to win her back. Yes I perfectly understood her position but I had felt she would have given me the chance to fix things.

—————————————————————————

Early the next morning, I got a call from my lawyer to meet him at the hotel he was lodging. I carried myself there with a very weak and tired body.

‘’so what’s up with the kidnapped lawyer?’’ I lazily asked as I sat down before him, expecting a positive answer. Seriously the issue had made me to forget about asking of my house documents and every other thing he was supposed to do for me.

‘’nothing much. The police are still doing their investigations while we try to play delay tactics with the kidnappers. I told the police everything I knew about my friend and the new cases he was handling. I was told by the police that they arrested your cousin after a routine search at his place because they found a gun in his bedroom’’ he explained softly while I froze on hearing that my cousin was being detained.

‘’but do you think he’s involved in this?, why send the police to his house?’’ I asked with concern.

‘’I never sent the police to his house. I only them all I knew about my friend and the cases he was handling. They arrested your cousin on their own but come to think of it, it looks your cousin is very wealthy, what exactly does he do for a living and why is he marrying the lady that dealt with your father probably for his money?. Don’t you think he has been working with her all these while and only pretends to be at your side?. He could even be the one that introduced her to your father in the first place and equally had to befriend you after his demise in order to know your next moves. Moreover they easily gave up the house in order to probably get the money worth of the house by kidnapping my friend.’’ He summarized flawlessly like a detective, putting me in a confused state as I slowly remembered how I got close to Kelvin and how helpful he had been.

‘’no I don’t think my cousin is working with her’’ I slowly muttered, knowing full well that my words sounded very stupid to him at that moment.

To be continued 

Episode 28

Jude’s side of the story continues

‘’but you know what?, once my friend is freed and safe, we will dig around to know how your dad actually died. For now just avoid your cousin Kelvin. I believe the guy’s hand is somehow involved. Many things are just pointing to him and I just can’t ignore it’’ my lawyer said strongly. I breathed deeply, saying nothing.
Deep down I was scared over the whole thing without frankly knowing the reason. I just felt like asking him to forget about digging out the past because I felt it could end up burning everyone and I really wasn’t ready to have blood in my hands. Of course I was scared of his safety as well because he probably wasn’t much aware of how things were run here in Nigeria.

—————————–

Kelvin’s side of the story continues from the last episode

I really had a very terrible night in the cell. The stench of the room, and the mosquitoes which fed fat from all of us were enough to make me lose my sanity. I couldn’t sleep neither was I able to even focus on my thoughts. I just prayed for Jessica to be able to get me out the next day just like she promised.
I equally waited for the police inspector to show up again to finish our pending discussion but he never showed up, leaving me wondering what exactly he wanted from me. It really was a very long and painful night for me.

Luckily around 10am the next day, I was dragged out of the cell to meet Jessica who was waiting for me with a new trouser and shirt.

‘’my love, we are going home, just change with these’’ she muttered happily, leaving me stunned as she offered the clothes to me.

‘’how did you do it?. How come?’’ I stammered excitedly. She blushed like an innocent school girl who just took the first position in her class.

‘’they found no evidence to link you with kidnapping, so they demanded for two hundred thousand naira in order to drop the gun possession charges. I paid it and you were freed’’ she announced sweetly. I heaved a sigh of relief.
I just couldn’t describe how I felt that moment. Jessica really had a way of always appearing like an angel.

‘’so simply keep a straight face, let’s walk out of here. I prepared something good at home’’ she smiled sweetly as she led me to an office (to complete the paper work of my bail).

——————————–

Ten minutes later, we were on our way back to my house. She drove my car while I sat at the passenger’s corner, too tired to even bring up a topic.

‘’You left your phone at home yesterday and it never stopped ringing. You had lots of missed calls’’ she softly informed me as she handed me my phone with her right hand.

‘’oh yea’’ I breathed as I collected the phone, freezing as the first number I saw on my missed calls list was no other person’s number than Emmanuella’s. My hands shook as I quickly gave Jessica a quick, guilty look, hoping she would say something about it but she never did. She just behaved as if she never went through my phone, something I was very sure she did. But since she failed to bring it up, I kept quiet as well.

On getting home, I took a long shower, freshened up and joined her at the dining table where a big plate of garri and ogbono soup were waiting for me to devour. I salivated as I quickly got ready to feed myself.

‘’I’m really glad you are back my love. I was very scared for you. The police can never be trusted’’ Jessica breathed solemnly as she poured out drinking water for me in a cup. I simply shook my head as I slowly recounted all I passed through in the cell.

‘’thanks for getting me out’’ I muttered with a smile.

‘’my love, how about we relocate to another town after our wedding?. This town is just too hot for us. The police are on your neck, Cynthia is back probably for revenge, and I believe things could only get worse. Our children can’t grow up here. I can easily set up my business in any town. Let’s just leave this town, all these drama. I beg of you’’ she softly begged with great energy, reaching out for my left hand. I slowly met her gaze, swallowing hard as I weighed all she just said in my head. Of course the town was really getting hurt for us but relocating with her also wasn’t something I wanted even though we shared lots of common secrets.

‘’here is my pregnancy text result, from a very reputable hospital’’ she added, dropping a paper before me.

‘’let’s just leave this town. I beg of you’’ she begged once again.

I couldn’t help but wonder if she was desperate to leave town over something else or if it was all about me?.

Episode 29

kelvin’s side of the story continues

I silently stared at Jessica for some seconds while she keenly waited for my reply. Leaving town was surely a good idea but leaving with her was something I just wasn’t ready for. I needed a little privacy. I needed to be on my own for a while to put my body and soul in order. Yes I owed her some favors but I never bargained on leaving the city and starting a new life with her in another city.

‘’listen jess dear, I know you have good intentions for me but for now I’m just not thinking straight. I badly need to rest and relax’’ I stammered softly. She shook her head, unconvinced with my reply.

‘’I know you have an answer already in your heart. It clearly shows in your eyes. Don’t beat around the bush and tell me what you feel about my suggestion?’’ she asked seriously, leaving me with no choice than to be honest with her.

‘’I really want to leave town but not with you. I just need a little vacation alone to clear my head and plan for my future’’ I explained slowly. She drew back, observing me suspiciously.

‘’how about me?, I hope you are not thinking of abandoning me and your baby here to die of depression?. How about our wedding plans?, don’t tell me you have also forgotten about it?’’ she asked quickly. I shook my head.

‘’you are a big girl. You can perfectly take care of yourself till I return. Forget about the wedding stuff for now. I just want to be alone. Thank you for getting me home’’’ I answered, smiling to put down my point while she stood up with great disappointment and disbelief.

‘’why are you so wicked?, why are you so cold?, why are you so heartless?. Have I ever done anything bad to you?. You only think about yourself but forget that I’m now a part of you. How do you expect me to live with pregnancy outside marriage at my age?. Come on please this is so unfair’’ she cried desperately. I swallowed hard and looked away. I just wasn’t ready to wed her. I had to be with a clear mind before going through that path again.

‘’but it’s not as if we aren’t married. Haven’t we done our traditional marriage?’’ I asked defensively. She sighed.

‘’thank you for everything. I thought my happiness was with you but I was mistaken. I still can’t imagine the reason you showed up in my life in the first place’’ she muttered angrily, shook her head and headed back to my bedroom where she cried her heart out. I couldn’t get myself to continue with the meal after such an emotional discussion moreover she cried so loud that my conscience began to hurt me.
I was forced to join her at the bedroom to see if I could come into an agreement with her. It really was the first time I was seeing Jessica cry so emotionally and yes it touched me because it showed that she was still a woman no matter her tough character unless of course she was faking it.

——————————————————–
Jude’s side of the story continues

8pm, Jude’s hostel

I was in my room, thinking about the new strategy to use on Tracy as my stomach growled once again, biting me at the same time. I drank two bottles of malt with five slices of bread in the afternoon plus a plate of Indomie an hour ago yet it was just as if nothing had entered my stomach all day.
I really felt like eating something solid like soup, garri or even beans. The kind of stuff only found in Tracy’s pot. The da.mn girl really knew I couldn’t survive a week without her and was just using everything to punish me. I really had hoped that since she said we were still cool as friends that I would have the luxury of eating from her pot but I was badly mistaken. She was all out to injure me where it hurt the most.

I was busy thinking about Tracy when I perceived a sweet aroma coming from a neighbor’s room. I quickly sat upright as I salivated, thinking of doing something most guys in my hostel were fond of doing which I used to frown on. Yes the aroma of fried plantain coming from Beauty’s room was too strong to be ignored and before I even knew what I was doing, I was at her door for the first time in my life.

You can’t imagine the surprise on Beauty’s face the moment she opened her door to see me smiling politely. As a big boy I knew the last thing she suspected was that I was in her room out of hunger.

‘’hmmmm Jude am I safe or are you here on Tracy’s behalf?’’ she asked guardedly while I blushed.

‘’no I’m here to keep you company. I have been alone all day in my room’’ I answered while she stared at me suspiciously, totally unconvinced with my reply.

‘’Tracy no longer talks to me. We broke up last Xmas and it really hurts’’ I explained weakly. Her eyes quickly lit up with interest or probably out of curiosity.

‘’oh come in then and gist me how it all happened. You know you guys were too close for something like that to happen?’’ she giggled, letting me into her room as she eagerly awaited my story while I swallowed hard as my eyes fell on a plate filled with fried plantain.

Episode 30

Jude’s side of the story continues from Beauty’s room

‘’what really broke you guys up?. You guys were too good for that s–t?’’ Beauty asked curiously as we ate fried plantain in her room. I shrugged, quickly forming up a reasonable explanation in my head.

‘’actually there was this girl i met some months back. We just got attracted to each other without any difficulty. The spark was just there and we wasted no time in hitting it off. It really was a onetime thing but the bad stench of the affair never left my body no matter how hard i tried to hide it from Tracy. The girl was just into me that she wouldn’t take no for an answer. I finally had to tell her about Tracy but instead of backing off; she befriended Tracy on facebook and told her about our illicit affair. Tracy got mad at me and till today, refused to listen to me’’ I explained softly, hiding the big details from her.

‘’that’s so bad. You cheated on your girl and hid it from her. She has every right to be mad at you’’ she muttered with a smile.

‘’yes I know but she is just overdoing it’’ I added solemnly.

‘’supposing Tracy did the same to you, would you forgive her?’’ she curiously asked, taking me by surprise with the question. I kept quiet as I thought about it. Of course I wasn’t sure I was going to forgive Tracy if she did the same to me but I was a guy and she was a woman. Things like that aren’t supposed to be weighed the same way. Men of course could cheat out of mistake or perhaps out of lust with no feelings whatever, but for a lady to cheat she must have feelings for the new man. I could be wrong but that was exactly what I reasoned that moment.

‘’anyway Tracy is also too full of herself. Maybe you cheated on her because she wasn’t properly satisfying you’’ she quickly added, probably in order for me not to feel bad. I smiled gratefully.

‘’thanks, I never knew you could be such a good friend’’ I muttered with a smile. She blushed.

‘’whenever you need anyone to talk to, feel free to come around’’ she offered politely.

‘’oh thanks very much’’ I breathed, blushing at the same time.

‘’so how about your boyfriend?’’ I asked, trying to change the topic. She shrugged.

‘’boyfriend?. I have no student boyfriend because it makes no sense. What I need right now is a guy above my level. A guy who can take good care of me. A guy who has something doing and unfortunately I haven’t met any, so I’m single’’ she answered with a very funny tone that made me laugh.

‘’I haven’t laughed this much in a while. I thank God for giving me the courage to walk up to your room’’ I confessed. She rolled her eyes.

‘’you can’t imagine how many times I had the urge to come over to your room last year but couldn’t summon the courage. There was this Telenovela Tracy do watch in your room every evening as of mid last year. I was following the movie at home but missed it when I left for school. I had to always cover my ears with my pillow whenever i heard the soundtrack of the movie.’’ She confessed while I stared at her with disbelief.

‘’but no one would have sent you out supposing you came over’’ I muttered.

‘’yes but your Tracy acts weird sometimes’’ she replied, looking down.

‘’but since you are here and you guys are not together, let’s go to your room then’’ she suddenly suggested with bright eyes while I nodded in agreement.

———————

Five minutes later Beauty and I headed to my room, giggling like close friends. It just looked as if we had been friends for so long. However as I unlocked my room door, Tracy suddenly appeared from her room and headed towards the staircase after throwing a very long look at Beauty. I never anticipated on her busting up on us that very evening and I felt that perhaps she heard our voice and simply wanted to see things for herself by pretending to be heading downstairs by that hour.

We ignored each other but deep down I was really pained.

To be continued.

  

 

Episode 31

Jude’s side of the story continues

‘’I think you should try talking to Tracy this night. I bet she will give you a listening ear’’ Beauty calmly said with a smile as soon as we settled in my room. I stared at her with great uncertainty, a bit confused over her suggestion.

Of course I was very worried over the look Tracy gave us moments ago and to me I felt the last thing she would do was to listen to anything I had to say but then Beauty was a lady as well and perhaps had a very good reason for making such a suggestion.

‘’do you think she will really listen to me after seeing us together?’’ I stammered softly. Beauty nodded, reached forward and held my left hand. I instantly felt a strange current pass through me.

‘’trust me, if she really is in love with you, she will be dying to speak to you this moment’’ she added, releasing her grip while I lustfully stared at her for no just reason. Yes of course I had no reason to have such silly ideas about her in my head but somehow it just popped in there. I quickly had to look away to focus on the problem at hand.

‘’I don’t want to lose Tracy. I guess I will go with your advice’’ I breathed softly.

‘’yea don’t wait for her to return to her room before making your move. I advice you wait for her at her door. Surprise her with your presence. That will be better’’ she added, smiled at me and reached for my TV remote while I hesitantly stood up to follow up with her advice.
Deep inside, my heart pounded furiously. I prayed deeply for her idea to work as I made my way towards Tracy’s room.

A minute later, I calmly stood in front of Tracy’s door like a frightened kid as I waited for her to show up. I really wasn’t sure if the idea was going to work but since I had nothing to lose in trying it out; I had to go on with the plan.
You can’t imagine the surprise on Tracy’s face the moment she showed up to see me waiting for her at the door. She just couldn’t believe her eyes. She stopped a distance away with a look of surprise shaded with resentment.

‘’what on earth are you doing there?’’ she asked with a slightly raised tone. I quickly took a nervous step towards her.

‘’I came for us to talk. You can’t shut me out of your life like that. You can’t throw away all we had built over the years as if they were nothing. I deserve a fair hearing. You can’t judge me with mere hearsay’’ I spoke with great courage, taking her back with my boldness.

‘’oh Christ, not again’’ she breathed, folding her hands.

‘’I see, your new friend put you into this. I get it. She told you what to say and how to act. Go back to your room and tell her that it didn’t move me’’ she breathed coldly.

‘’why are you so uptight?. Let’s go to your room and talk, please I beg of you. We got to settle this tonight’’ I demanded pleadingly. She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

‘’there is nothing to talk about. You are a liar, you are a deceiver. I can’t let you ruin my life or my future. You are having a child with another woman and that can’t be erased. You never denied it either. So don’t tell me s–t about love. This Is Africa. I can’t toy with my future so blazingly. No matter what, you will still go back to her in the end and by then it will be too late for me. The decision of moving on with my life is something I took time to decide and nothing can change it. I have a new guy now and please respect my decision’’ she poured out solemnly, walked past me and unlocked her door while I speechlessly stood like a carved image, uncertain of what next to say or do. Of course she had every right to protect her happiness and future by moving on with her life but she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. There just wasn’t any possible way of convincing her that I was genuinely in love with her. Yes I had my flaws. I made terrible mistakes but no matter what, I still loved her.

‘’Trey I know I hurt you very much. But I will never stop loving you. I will do everything to prove myself’’ I stammered, stopping her with my words. She turned, and stared at me for a while before swallowing hard as if she wanted to say something.

Eagerly I waited for her to say something but I was disappointed. She simply shook her head after battling with herself for some seconds, turned and headed into her room.
I couldn’t force myself into her room. I knew I had to let her be for the meantime, but however I realized that moment that no matter her cold attitude towards me that she was still very much in love with me, she simply was protecting her future and happiness just like she expressed and I knew she was right about it.

All I needed was just a way to break her resistance which clearly looked impossible at that time.

Episode 32

Jude’s side of the story continues

I returned to my room to met Beauty eagerly waiting for me. She couldn’t even hide the excitement in her. It was just as if she was my big sister or something.

‘’so what’s up?’’ she asked with great excitement.

‘’nothing much’’ I breathed, looking down.
‘’ I didn’t achieve anything but at least we talked well and her emotions gave her away. She’s still very much in love with me’’ I added, slowly narrating all that transpired between Tracy and I. she listened with great attention.

‘’oh dear, you were too dull. You could have grabbed her when she was a bit indecisive, carried her to her room and made love to her. The opportunity you needed just stared you at the face but you blew it. Sometimes we ladies need just a little fondling and caresses to be on track’’ she breathed quickly. I shrugged, saying nothing.

‘’every lady has a sensitive spot. You could have made the bold move’’ she added with a look of disappointment, making me feel unmanly with her words.

‘’I have never made love to Tracy; we never did it when we were together. So I guess it wouldn’t have worked’’ I confessed, leaving her totally shocked.

‘’you mean you guys haven’t done it before?. But you have been together for so long’’ she asked with disbelief while I shrugged.

‘’oh I see, no wonder’’ she stammered with resignation, leaving me wondering what exactly she was thinking that moment.

—————————————-
Kelvin’s side of the story continues (same evening)

Softly I knocked at Emmnuella’s door, as I nervously looked around for the tenth time. I had this feeling that I was being followed for no just reason. Perhaps it was the trauma I passed through at the police station that was still playing with my mind or perhaps the fear of what Jessica would do to me if she was to find out about my affair with her friend.
Emmanuella was just like alcohol to me, I knew having her was very dangerous but I just couldn’t get the urge out of my system. Of course i was very clueless on how it will all end with her. Oh yes I knew our affair would end very abruptly.

The front door soon opened, revealing Emmauella who quickly smiled on seeing me. As usual she was looking pretty hot and sexy.

‘’ah finally! what a surprise. You haven’t been picking my calls’’ she breathed as she threw herself on me.

‘’I just obtained my freedom from the police. They arrested me over the flimsy excuse that I was in possession of an unlicensed firearm’’ I explained softly.

‘’you really need to get away from Jessica’’ she suddenly breathed, leaving me very curious with her comment.

‘’do you feel Jessica is also behind it?’’ I asked while she shrugged, saying nothing.

‘’I will be leaving town for few days. I want to travel to a quiet city, relax and get myself in order’’ I added, studying her intently as I lowered myself on a sofa. She smiled, drew close and sat on my laps.

‘’that’s great. How about we leave town together?’’ she suddenly suggested. I stared at her suspiciously.

‘’don’t you have a job or something?’’ I asked with a polite tune. She quickly frowned and left my body.

‘’I’m ready to make sacrifices for you. I just like you and I want to help you get away from Jessica’’ she muttered coldly, quickly putting me in a defensive position with her words.
I slowly got up, drew close and held her by the shoulder.

‘’I do find you irresistible but there are many things about you that I’m yet to figure out’’ I breathed, kissing her neck.

‘’let’s do the vacation together. I will tell you everything when we get there’’ she softly offered, turned and faced me as we exchanged hot glances.
Few minutes later, we were on her bed, tearing each other apart.

——————-

I returned to my house early the next day, to meet Jessica all dressed up. She sighed on seeing me while I smiled, trying hard to appear nice. Of course I never planned spending the night with Emmanuella but the pretty witch never let me go and when we eventually finished ourselves up, I was just too tired to head home.

‘’I can’t believe you slept out. I could have left you at the police cell since you now prefer sleeping out instead of your own house’’ she said angrily while I yawned.

‘’I went to see some friends and we got all boozed up’’ I lied softly.

‘’I know you were with a woman but keep on till I get you guys. I will murder and leave her corpse for you to bury’’ she coldly threatened and walked away, leaving great fear all over me as her words sank in.
Of course her words were more like a normal feminine rant but deep down I had this feeling that she meant every word.

I needed no one to tell me that I had to be very careful with Emmanuella.

Episode 33

Kelvin’s side of the story continues

(Sunday morning)

I hurriedly packed up my things while Jessica watched me with disbelief. She just couldn’t believe I was actually leaving town without her. The look on her face showed all she felt that moment. I simply ignored her as I packed up, whistling a song at the same time to show my excitement which obviously annoyed her more.

‘’why are you doing this to me?. What joy will you derive in leaving me here all by myself after what we have through together?’’ she finally breathed, trying to make me feel guilty with her words but unfortunately her words had no effect on me, I just wanted to be away from her for a while. I badly needed to think about my life in a quiet environment. Of course that was my excuse for not taking her along but then there really wasn’t any excuse for including Emmanuella on the trip.
Yes I had no tangible reason for accepting to take Emmanuella along but instead of having second thoughts about it, I looked forward in having a great time with her. An urge I just couldn’t understand.

Same evening @Le Meridien Hotel Uyo,

‘’wow what a beautiful room’’ Emmanuella breathed with great excitement as we stared at each other passionately. I shrugged, breathing deeply.

‘’seriously I don’t know what pushed me into agreeing to come here with you. My initial plan was really to spend my time all alone here and think about my life’’ I confessed, looking down. She drew close, kissed my jaw and felt my heartbeat with her palms.

‘’you did the right thing in taking me on this trip. How about we shower together?. I have a long story for you and after listening to it, you will realize that you did great in bringing me along’’ she muttered with a seductive smile, quickly pulling off her clothes. I hungrily stared at her unclad body for a while before slowly undressing and walking into the bathroom with her.
Together we showered played and ended up making great love.

‘’jeez you are too strong and hot. Were you really trying to penetrate me through my a.ss or what?’’ she asked, breathing heavily when we were done with the rough play. I smiled and closed my eyes.

‘’I have successfully tried every style with you but that. Can we go on with it?’’ I asked playfully. She laughed, hitting my chest softly.

‘’no wonder Jessica is losing her senses because of you. You are giving it to her the way she never imagined’’ she breathed. I scoffed.

‘’but you should be careful with her. She’s soft with you doesn’t mean that she still can’t bite when provoked. She duped and killed your cousin’s father’’ she softly revealed, shocking me with her words. I quickly sprang up from the bed with great attention.

‘’I really wasn’t very much honest with you at first but hear me out now’’ she added seriously, sitting up to return my gaze.

‘’Jessica made your late uncle believe she was in love with him and being his old account manager, it was very easy for her to get him where she wanted. She manipulated him so well that the man left his building in the village under her care. She simply used the money without doing much on the house and the man never knew. The man equally sent money for a bungalow in town which she actually bought but turned to hers. It was just as if she used charms on him, because I never knew a man could be so gullible. He was her greatest hit and she never joked with him. When the man eventually returned to Nigeria, she took things to the next level. I don’t know what actually happened between them but she ended up killing him in his sleep. She ran to my house that very night seeking assistance. I was to be her alibi in case the police asked questions, the plan was for me to claim that she spent the night with me and not with the man, but luckily for her no one asked a d–n question and the issue died a natural death. However she kept me updated and that was how I knew about your cousin Jude and finally you. She is now manipulating you as well but what I really don’t know is the motive behind it. She has people everywhere and I just risked a lot by telling you this story. I could have told you about it earlier but just couldn’t because I really didn’t know which side you were on’’ she narrated, leaving me totally shaken with the story.

Jessica was definitely a killer but the question that sprang into my head that moment was ‘’what next?’’. What could I possibly do with Emmanuella’s story? Of course I knew the last thing she would do was to publicly testify against Jessica.

Episode 34

Kelvin’s side of the story continues

‘’you know without evidence, your story has no value. I just wish there is little evidence to back it up’’ I muttered calmly, wondering if she had something to back up her story. She shrugged and drew back.

‘’unfortunately there isn’t anything like that for now but I can get out a confession from her. I can record it for you. Yes I can do it’’ she offered breathlessly, giving me great hope with her words. I stared at her curiously as my heart pounded fast out of excitement.

‘’but more thing’’ she added, drawing closer to me once again as we stared into each other’s eyes with great intensity.

‘’promise me that at the end of the day, after we get Jessica locked up in jail that you will settle down with me’’ she demanded strongly, taking me aback with such blunt demand. I just couldn’t believe myself for some seconds. The shock I felt instantly gave me away. She frowned on seeing how disturbed her demand left me. She dropped her eyes, looking gloomy.

‘’so I’m only good to be fu.cked?. I’m only good for fun right?’’ she asked with a slightly raised tone as her color rapidly changed.

‘’no I beg of you’’ I stammered, not exactly knowing what to say.

‘’yes see your reaction?. You mean I should take the full risk of bringing down Jessica without any reward in the end?. I’m only trying to save your as.s from misery and the best you can do is to reciprocate my gesture by being with me to the very end. I need your presence and protection’’ she pushed on.
I closed my eyes for some seconds as I quickly thought of how to follow up with her. Yes she had a perfect body. She was fun to be with but she was as hell in the same league as Jessica. I just couldn’t imagine her being the mother of my kids.
I badly wanted to know the whole truth about Jessica but it wasn’t going to be at the expense of playing with my future or making the same mistake I made with Jessica.

‘’so what now?’’ I heard her say, interrupting my thoughts. I opened my eyes, drew forward and kissed her, totally surprising her with the kiss.

‘’what was that for?’’ she asked with a look of confusion.

‘’I believe you are a better woman than Jessica. I think it’s better to be with you than her. Yes let’s do this’’ I softly breathed, drawing out a smile of satisfaction from her as she quickly hugged me.
I never meant those words but perhaps she was too gullible or stupid not to realize that the promise I just made wasn’t from my heart unless of course she had her own plans or means of tying me down after getting the confession from her friend.

—————————-
Jude’s side of the story continues (same Sunday evening)

I was about going to Beauty’s room when my phone rang and it was no other person than my lawyer calling. I nervously picked the call, wondering what the evening call was all about.

‘’good news, my friend has secured his freedom. We managed to pay the ransom and he was released this evening. Meet me at my hotel tomorrow morning, so that we can conclude things’’ he quickly informed me, hanging up instantly while I heaved a sigh of relief. Yes I really felt very relieved, learning that the barrister had been freed because I kind of felt responsible for the whole kidnap thing.

I just couldn’t wait for the next day to arrive and round things up once and for all. It just was as if a heavy load was suddenly carried off my chest and with that happy mood, I walked into Beauty’s room, surprising the poor girl with a quick hug as she opened her room door for me. The affectionate hug really left her staring at me breathlessly, clueless of what to make of it.

No I had no dirty reason for hugging her so strongly, It was just a happy moment I needed to share with someone like Tracy but unfortunately she wasn’t there at that moment and I just couldn’t imagine what Beauty felt of my action.

Episode 35

Jude’s side of the story continues

Early the next day I met my lawyer at his hotel room just like he requested and together we headed to barrister Clem’s house. Of course I really was very anxious and nervous at the same time, or should I say overly excited.
In no time we got to the barrister’s house.

Just like I expected, barrister Clem was just a shadow of his former self. He looked so pale, malnourished and thin. The bruises on his body equally revealed the hell he passed through at the kidnappers den, even though he appeared calm and composed.

‘’thank God you are back’’ I breathed with excitement, not really knowing what to say while he smiled at me.

‘’I believe someone paid for me to be kidnapped. I saw hell in there. I was beaten every day and night but I thank God for my life. It’s now a thing of the past. I just pray nemesis catches up with them’’ the barrister muttered confidently while I breathed deeply, wondering what made him so sure that someone paid for his kidnap.

‘’anyway Jude we were lucky the kidnappers didn’t do anything with the car and documents in it. Actually after I was released, they left a note on where to get the car and we eventually recovered it with the help of the police’’ he added as he handed a document to my lawyer.

‘’I believe the car and documents I had in my care weren’t of any concern to them’’ he added with a sharp smile.

‘’tomorrow I will inspect and check out the house Jessica handed over to us. By Thursday I will be leaving the country for a medical checkup. When I get back, we will round up everything concerning the property’’ he explained while I shrugged with resignation because there was nothing really to say. The important thing was that he was back alive and my documents still intact.

‘’I will be leaving the country with him on Thursday. You know I have overstayed more than I planned, but we will still keep in touch every other hour’’ my lawyer slowly chipped in while I shrugged once again.

‘’Thank you for everything. You guys are great’’ I finally stammered after few seconds of silence.

—————————————–

Kelvin’s side of the story continues
(Few days later)
8:11pm Thursday, Emanuella’s apartment.

As Emmanuella slowly opened the door to her apartment, I playfully tickled her waist, making her turn to face me with laughter.

‘’you are still not tired of my body. Are you?’’ she breathed happily while I stared into her eyes as all we did during the short vacation played back in my head.
Yes the vacation was a success. I got my spirit and old self back. Emmanuella equally was wonderful and if not that the money I budgeted was already exhausted, we would have stayed till the weekend, instead we had to pack and head home that very Thursday.

‘’hope we can do this some other time?’’ she asked hopefully. I silently nodded.
Just that moment, a male neighbor walked up to us with a smile on his face.

‘’oh I guess you haven’t been around?. I even knocked on your door an hour ago?’’ he said to Emmanuella after shaking my hand.

‘’oh I travelled with my boyfriend’’ she replied, winking at me. I blushed.

‘’hope you guys had fun?’’ the male neighbor asked. She laughed.

‘’anyway, I just came to tell you that my son will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday. Chinonso will be a year old on Saturday’’ he announced happily.

‘’oh that’s great. I sure will be there to celebrate with your family’’ she muttered politely while the neighbor smiled and headed outside.

————————
Emmanuella’s sitting room
—–

‘’so what now?’’ Emmanuella playfully asked as we held each other in the sitting room. It was just as if she couldn’t stay a second without me.

‘’I have to start leaving now my dear. You know I have Jessica to face tonight. I can’t imagine the kind of fight we will be having this evening’’ I breathed with a solemn look. She softly kissed me, scanning my face with great concern.

‘’just be careful with her okay’’ she breathed. A knock landed on her door before I could reply, taking our attention.

‘’who could it be by this hour?’’ she asked, broke away from me and slowly headed to the door while I waited and watched. But as soon as she opened the door, she gasped and drew back into the room with great fear while the visitor who was dressed in black top and trouser confidently walked in with a smile.
The visitor was no other person than Jessica. I just couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t prepared for such confrontation. And the intriguing thing was that she appeared well composed and calm as if she had everything already figured out.

‘’can anyone please tell me what’s going on here?’’ she asked with a calm smile while Emmanuella ran to me obviously for protection.
My plans with Emmanuella, everything suddenly appeared to come to a hold. Jessica just had this way of being at the top every time. Of course i didn’t know what to do or say.

‘’so you stole the food meant for your elder huh?. how much have you told him?. You just can’t control yourself whenever you see a man. D–n, you just betrayed me girl. You know what comes next right?. You know the rules’’ she shouted at Emmanuella who suddenly held me tightly, like someone being electrocuted.

‘’I’m so dead. She’s going to kill me right now’’ she cried as if she just saw the future, totally surprising me with her outburst. But I had no time to wait because just that moment, Jessica pulled out a pistol from her bag.

‘’I’m sorry, I never intended this to happen but someone has to pay and that person clearly isn’t me. I warned you about this as well kelvin’’ she breathed, aimed and fired without hesitation.

There was silence after the heavy sound of gunshot.

Episode 36

Kelvin’s side of the story continues

Jessica smiled evilly as she lowered the gun while I heaved a sigh of relief thinking she only fired a warning shot. I never knew Emmanuella was hit until she fell heavily on my body with a soft groan.

‘’she shot me. I’m dying’’ she groaned as I nervously grabbed her. I just didn’t know what to do that moment as I softly laid her on the floor to see where she was shot and how badly she was hurt.
There was blood all over her chest and in no time my hands were covered with her blood. There wasn’t any doubt the bullet went through her chest.

I threw an angry look towards Jessica’s direction but to my surprise she wasn’t there any longer. She just vanished. It was as if she was never there in the first place. I couldn’t believe myself as I returned my attention to the dying girl.

‘’I’m dying. I don’t want to die’’ Emmanuella cried weakly as I weighed the options before me. A part of me felt like abandoning her and running away but I just couldn’t do it because the memory of what happened with Cynthia was still very fresh in my head. Moreover a neighbor just saw us together and so running away would make me look extremely guilty.

I was still battling with my thoughts when the neighbor we met earlier showed up at the door. He stared at the scene for some seconds before screaming and running in to probably check things .

‘’what happened?. I heard the scream and gunshot that followed. Why did you shoot her?’’’ he stupidly asked while I gasped with disbelief over his question.

‘’I didn’t shoot her. Someone else did. Let’s take her to the hospital first’’ I stammered as he stared at me suspiciously before shrugging in resignation. In no time the sitting room was filled with concerned neighbors. Of course I was the main suspect and there was nothing I could do about it.

Luckily no one laid a finger on me, everyone was just concerned in taking the dying girl to the hospital and in few minutes we were at federal medical center owerri where the doctors at the emergency unit battled to save her life but the look on their faces clearly showed that all we needed for Emmanuella to survive was nothing but a miracle. She was really shot at a fatal area and she already lost a lot of blood.
However I never had time to worry about Emmanuella because I had a lot to worry about myself as the police showed up to take me in for questioning. And that was it, another straight ticket to jail.

2am, state police headquarters

‘’I now recognize you. You had a case the previous week with us?. What’s up with you and crime?. And the funny thing is that you always claim to be innocent” the police inspector who took me from the hospital asked as he led me to an empty office. The look on his face clearly showed that he already had pronounced me guilty.

‘’you got to believe me officer. I had no reason to shoot the poor girl, moreover no gun was found on me. We just got back from a vacation and my girlfriend showed up and shot her’’ I feebly defended myself.

‘’this case is too big for me to handle. You have to wait for my superiors to come and take over. Just pray she doesn’t die because that’s the only way you can escape prison. I’m speaking from experience. Moreover you already have a bad record’’ he added, shook his head, left the room and locked the door.

I fell with my knees on the floor as the reality of the grave situation I was in played before me. I could be charged for murder or manslaughter if the poor girl dies and with the look of things she was definitely going to die.
Jessica equally wasn’t there to help me out this time around because she was the mastermind of the whole thing. She perfectly ruined me at the right time and to think that she warned me.

‘’no God noooooooooo’’ I cried miserably.

To be continued